Latch and lock for locker doors



Aug. 8, 1950 R. R. HILER LATCH AND LOCK FOR LOCKER DQORS 3 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed July 27, 1949 Aug. 8, 1950 R. R. HILER LATCH AND LOCK FOR LOCKERDOORS Filed July 2'7, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1950 R. R. HILER LATCH ANDLOCK FOR LOCKER DOORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 27', 1949 PatentedAug. 8, 1950 LATCH AND LOCK FOR LOCKER DOORS Roy R. Hiler, Sewell, N.J., assignor to Penn Metal Corporation of Penna., Philadelphia, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Application July 27, 1949,. Serial No.107,116

8 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in lockingdevices, and more particularly to locking devices, especially adaptedfor clothes lockers and the like.

'The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novellocking device for lockers which is constructed to permit the lockerdoor to be locked while in an open position and then when closed to beautomatically latched and locked thus preventing the door from beingreopened until the lock is unlocked to permit operation of the latchrelease mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel locking device forlockers having the features and characteristics set forth which is ofcomparatively simplified and inexpensive construction and is entirelyfoolproof and effective in operation and use.

These and other objects of the invention and the various features anddetails of the construction and operation thereof are hereinafter fullyset forth and described with reference to the accompanying drawings; inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a sheet metal locker embodying thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the locker ordoor, part thereof having been broken away to illustrate certainstructural details of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a portion of the lockershowing the construction and arrangement of the door keeper mountedthereon;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view showing the locking device with thelatch in cocked position ready to engage with the keeper when the lockerdoor is shut;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 4 showing the latchmembers in locking engagement with the door keeper;

Fig.6 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figs. 4 and 5 showing thelatching .members in the raised position to which actuated prior to thelatching members assuming the cooked position thereof shown in Fig. 4; I

.Fig. 'l is a view inperspective of the vertical reciprocable actuatingmember of the locking device showing the details of construction there-Fig.8 is an enlarged detached view in perspective of one of a pair ofbrackets fixedly associated with the locking device actuating member;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detached view in perspective of one of a pair oflatch members that is operatively associated with the lock-actuatingmember;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary front-ele-' vational view showing aportion of the locker with the door in closed position, a portion of thedoor being broken away to show certain struc}.

' view taken on line l2-I2, Fig. 10. Referring now more particularly tothe draw-" in there is illustrated in Fig. 1 a double tier of lockerseach of which is provided with side jambs 2 and 3, respectively. A sheetmetal door 4 is mounted on the jamb 3 by means of hinges 5.

The peripheral edges of the door 4 are bent-in ward to provide inwardlyextending flangesli,

and the flange 6 along the free vertical side edge of the doorterminates at its inner edge-in a laterally extending flange portion 1which is disposed in spaced parallel relation tov the plane of the door4 and forms with the latter and the intermediate flange portion 6 athree-sided recessor channel 8 that extends the entire height of thedoor 4.

Mounted for vertical sliding movement within the door channel 8 is anactuating member 90fchannel cross-sectional shape and having a lengthjust slightly less than the height of the said. d0or channel. The member9 is slidably re -f tained and guided in the door channel 8 by means ofpressed-out lugs 8a in the latter which extend inwardly and engagewithin suitable vertically elongated slots 9a provided in the actuatormemher 9. Sliding movement of the actuating chanvided with rubbercushions H to cushionand render substantially noiseless the engagementof the ends of the actuator member 9 with the top and bottom flanges 6of the locker door 4.

Sliding movement of the actuator member 9 vertically within the doorchannel 8 is accomplished manually by means of a handle l2 which ismounted at the outer or front side of the door 4 and is fixedly securedto the actuator member,

9 by means of arms I 3 which form a part of the said handle 12 andextend through suitable openings l4 and I5 provided therefor in the doorchannel 8 and actuator 9, respectively. The

handle arm openings 14 in the door channel 8 are vertically elongated toprovide suflicient clearance for travel of the arms l3 when the acshowninf-lg. 9 of the drawings.

tuator member 9 is raised and lowered. As shown in Fig. 12 of thedrawings, the handle I2 is slotted or recessed as indicated at I6 toreceive therein the outwardly projecting leg H of an angle member whichhas its other leg portion I8 fixedly secured to the inner surface of thedoor 4, for example, in the manner-and relationship shown ins'said Eig.-J2,suitable openings 18,0. being provided in the actuator member 9 toprovide suflicient clearance for said leg I8 upon sliding movement ofthe latter within the door channel 8.

The recess I6 in the handle -I2 hassufficient height to permit verticalslidingv movement-oft the handle I2 relative to the angle leg I! and theposition of the latter vertically on the door 4 with respect to the saidhandle i2 is such that, when the latter is in its lower limit position,sui able openings I9 provided in the handle I2 will bedisposed belowtheanglelee I-Lthuspermitting the passage therethrough of a padlock or likedevice, for example, iin the manner indicated at II in-Fis. l

.In'lieu of or in additionztosuch a padlock or like devicegthe doormaybe provided =with--akeyoperated lock 22 secured interiorly of .thedoor 4 and having a bolt .23 adapted 1 to engage inwardly of theactuator member il-througlra suitable slot onmgening 24 -therein,':thesaid-opening .24 being positioned in theimember=9 so that itis disposedtorgeceivethe lock bolt-2310:1157 inthe lower: limit position ofvertical movement of themember- 9.

Eixedlysecured, for'example, by welding, within the .actuater memberfladjacent the opposite ends-thereof are-brackets 2.5, thedetailsrof.constructicn of which are :clearly *shown in .Fig. 28 of the'drawings.vAs shown'in'Fig. 7 the brackets 25: are secured tothebase portion: ofthe channel shaped members and at their upper end these bracketsareprovided with. o horizontally extend-- ing }head portion '26 havingdepending *edge flanges ZI-and 28, With reference to 7 the mQkcts =25are mounted in the lchannel shaped member 9 with the head portion. 2 S:dispesedad. jacent the outer side wall portion 91) thereof so tbat'saidhead portion 26 together :with its depending edge flanges .21 and .28cooperate with the inner surface of said wall portion :9?) to providea-downwardly opening recess 01' socket the purpose for which-will be setforth hereinafter. I i-addition to the-head -.portion .26 the bracketsZi-are-providedat .their-lowerend with an in-- wardlyextending flangeportion :29.

Formed in the-other wall Scof the actuator member .9 .arerelativelydarge openings'or cutreceive therethrough, door keepers 32which are fixedly mountedin association .withthe side jamb 2 ofthelocker. The'keepers.SZareprovided with resilient cushions 33 to cushionthe closing .im-. pact of the lock door A.

Mounted within the actuator member 9 forceopcrative engagement witlrthe.door keepers 32 are latch members which aregenerally designated by.reference numerals 35 .and constructed as As shown, the latohmembers/SS.areof generally wedge shape construction having .a downward taperarranged so-that thelower end portion of the latch mom.- bers isafforded limited pivotal or rocking movement in a plane perpendicular tothe plane of the locker door 4. The latch members 35 are of generallyhollow construction having at the upper end thereof relatively spacedouter and inner wall portions 36 and 31 between which is disposed agenerally horizontally extending flange portion 38 that carriesaresilient-cushion element 39. The outer wall portion .36 of the .latchmember 35 extends the entire height of the latter whereas the inner wallportion 31 is of limited vertical extent having its lower edge portion31a constructed and arranged to engage a vertical slot 32a in the .doorkeeper 32 when the door 4 is .closed. The wall portion 31 is spacedsubstan- ;t ially.froma lowerdnner wall portion 50 so as to providetherebetween an opening for the passage ofthe 'doorkeeper 32. The upperedge of the lower inner wall portion 40 of the latch is provided with anoutwardly projecting lug portion 4 l.

As previouslystated the latch members 35 are mounted within the channelshaped actuator member .9 .for limite'd sliding androckins movementrelative thereto. In this connection the,

latch members .35 are afiordcd vcrticalslidin movement in the member 9.within the .limits provided bythchead and flangeportions 2B and 29 ofthe brackets .25.

It is to bcnotcd, h0 WVE1,,th&t the latch elements 35 normally arebiaseddownwardly within the member 9 with respect to the brackets 25 bymeans of coil springs 53 whichare interposed between the'latter and thelatch members. 35. In,

thiseonnection it 'lS pointed out that the coil springs 43 have their.upper ends disposed within the sockets formed by the bracketheadportion:

26 and its ,depending-flanges'fl and 28 in cooperationwith the channelmember side wall ,9b and that'the lower end of thesaid coil springs 43seat upon the upper surface of the latch member flanges'38.

ln-operation of 'a locking device and assuming that the locker door 4 isinclosed position and lccked'withthe several parts of thelockingdevice'in the-relative positions shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings,in order to open the door 4 the look 22 is first unlocked to remove thebolt "23 from engagement within the openingzfl in memher- 9, andi-f thehandle I2 is locked by means 01 a padlock or thelike passed throughthe-openings I9 therein this likewise is unlocked and removed.

The handle I2 may now be manually actuated in an upward directioncarrying'with it the channel shaped actuator member 9 until the upperend of the latter engages the underside of the top door flange-6. Thisupward movement of the actuator member'9, of course, carries with it thebrackets 25 and the bottom flange portions 29 of these brackets in turnengage the bottom of the resilient blocks 39 on the latch members 35thereby carrying the latter upwardly and disposing the several parts ofthe device in the relative positionshown in Fig. 6 of the drawing.In'this position the latch members 35 have been disengaged from the doorkeepers '32 and hence the locker door 4 maybe swung outwardly to openposition.

At this time the door handle I2 may be released from the grip of theoperator with the result that the latter and the channel shapedactuator-member 9 are caused to drop downwardly underthe influence ofgravity to their lower limit position. During initial downward movementof the actuator member 9 and the parts carried thereby the springs 43urge the latch members downwardly and at the same time cause them torock or pivot in the clockwise direction with respect to the drawingandengage the flange portion 4| thereof over the bottom edge ofthe keeperopenings 3| in the door channel 8 in the manner andrelation shown inFig. 4 of the drawing.

{After engagement of the latching member flange 4| on the lower edgeofthe keeper open-;

ings 5H as described, downward movement of the actuator member 9 andhandle I2, to their-lower position continues independently of thelatchmembers 35 until said parts assume the relative'positionsshown inFig. 4 of the drawing.

Since the channel shaped actuator member 9; cgntinues to move downwardlyfor a short pe riod after engagement of the latch members onth loweredge of the openings 3|,it will be observed that .the springs 43 are;compressed so. that a substantial force is stored in the springs.

43. tending to urge the latch members 35 downwardly.

When the latching members 35 have been set; in the cooked position shownin Fig. '4 and the actuator member 9 has dropped to its lower limitposition, the lock 22 may be operated to project the bol t 2 3 throughthe opening 24 of the member 9., and thereby lock the latter in itslowermost position. Likewise a padlock or the like may be insertedthrough the handle openings IE] to there-1 by lock the handle againstupward actuation.

.With the several parts of the locking device in the relative positiondescribed and shown in Fig. 4, asthedoor approaches fully closedposition the keepers 32 pass' inwardly through the openings at and 31 inthe door channel 8 and actuator member 9. This inward passage of thedoor keepers. 32 continues until the forward edges thereof engage theinnersurfaces of the walls 369i the latch members 35 thereby actuatingthe latter in the counterclockwise direction to disengage the latchmember'flange 4| from the" bottom edge of the door channel openings 3|.As the flange 4] is disengaged from the channel openingsjthe energystored in the springs lt forces the latch members 35 in the downwarddirection to engage the lower edge 31a of the latchjwall portion 31within the slot'32a of the associated keeper 32 in the manner andrelation shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Thus thedoor 4 is locked in.closed position and cannot be, opened until the lock 22 and any otherlock have been unlocked. v

From the foregoing it will be observed that the present inventionprovides a novel locking device for lockers which is constructed topermit the locker door to be locked while in an open position and then,when closed, to be automatically latched" and locked thus preventing thedoor invention has been illustrated and described.

6 herein, it is not intended to limit the invention. to such disclosure,and changes and modifications may be made therein and thereto within thescope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a locking device for doors, an actuator member adapted to beslidably associated with a door and having an opening adapted toregister with an opening in the door for a door keeper, a latch memberfor engaging said keeper when said keeper extends through said openingsmounted for limited sliding movement relative to said actuator and forlimited rocking movement trans- I versely thereof, means associated withthe'actu'-; ator operable upon sliding movement thereof in." onedirection to actuate said latch member in. the same direction tounlockedposition, means acting --on said latch member biasing thesameslidably in the opposite direction toward locked position androckably toward-said keeper opening, and means on the latch memberadapted to extend through said openings and being engageable with a wallof said openings in the door under: the bias of said spring to hold thelatter in. said unlocked position adjacent said keeper opening uponmovement of the actuator in the opposite direction. 1

2. In a locking device for doors, an actuator member adapted to beslidably associated witha door and having an opening adapted to registerwith an opening in the door for a door keeper,- a latch member forengaging said keeper when said keeper extends through said I openingsmounted for limited sliding movement. relative to said" actuator and forlimited rocking move.--v ment transversely thereof, means associatedwith the actuator operable upon sliding movement thereof in onedirection to actuate said latch member in the same direction to unlockedposi-.: tion, means acting on said latch member biasing the sameslidably in the opposite direction toward locked position and rocliablytoward said keeper opening, and means on the latch member adapted toextend through said openings and being engageable with a wall of saidopenings in the door under the bias of said spring to hold the latter insaid unlocked position adjacent said keeper opening upon movement of theactuator in the opposite direction, the latch member in said unlockedposition being disposed for engagement by a keeper entering the openingin said actuator upon ciosingthe door to disengage the latch from thedoor and cause it to be actuated in the opposite direction to lockedposition by said spring.

3. In a locking device for doors, a vertically shiftable actuator memberadapted to be slidably associated with a door and arranged to drop bygravity to locked position whenever released from upper unlockedposition, means to raise-said actuatormember, said actuator having anopening therein adapted to register with an opening in the door so as toreceive a door keeper, a latch member slidabie relative to said actuatorv and having limited rocking movement transversely thereof, meansproviding a connection between said actuator and latch member operableto actuate the latter upwardly when the actuator is raised, spring meansnormally biasing said latch member slidably in the downward directionand rockably toward said keeper opening, and means on the latch memberadapted to extend through said openings and being engageable witha wallof said openings in the door under. the bias of; said spring when thelatch member is. raised toamen-41 hold :the rlatter in an elevatedposit-ion adjacent said =keeper :opening when actuator drops 'to lockedgposition by gravity upon release of the handle.

4. In a locking device for doors, a vertically shiftable actuatormemberadapted to be slidably associated with ,aldoor and arranged todrop by gravity to locked position whenever released'from upper.unlocked position, means to raise said notuatcixmember, said actuatorhaving an opening therein adapted to register with an opening in thedoor so as to receive .a door keeper, a latch member :slidably relative"to said actuator .and having .ilimited rocking -movement transverselythereof, means providing a connection between said actuator and latchmember operable to actuate-*thellatter upwardly when the actuator israised, spring means normally biasing said latch member slidabiy in" thedownward direction and rockably toward said keepercpening, means on thelatch member adapted to extend throughsaid openings and being engageablewith .a wall of said :openings in the door under the bias :of saidspring when the latchmember is raised toLhold the latter in-an elevated;position adjacent said keeper vopeningwhen the actuatordrops tolockedposition by gravity upon release of the handle, thelatoh member insaid-elcvated'position being engageable by thekeeper upon closing thedoor androcked thereby against the bias of said spring torelease thelatch member and cause it to be actuated downwardly by said spring intolocking engagement with the keeper.

:5. In :a locking device for doors, an actuator member adapted to beslidably associated with a door and-havingan openingadapted to registerwith an opening in the door for a door keeper, abracket fixedly carriedby said actuator member and having spaced projecting stop portions, alatch member for engaging said keeper when extended through saidopenings slidable relative to said actuator for limited rocking movementtransversely thereof and having a flange portion disposed for engagementby one stop portion of the bracket-so that movement of the actuator inone-direction operates to move the latchmember in the same-direction tounlocked position, spring means interposed between the bracketother'stop and latch member flange normally biasing said latch memberslidably in the opposite direction toward-locked position'and rockablytoward said keeper opening, and a projection on the latch member adaptedto extend through said openings and being engageable with a wall of saidopening in the door under the bias of said spring when the latch memberis actuated in said one direction to hold the latter in said unlockedposition adjacent said keeper opening when'the actuator is moved in theopposite direction.

6. In a locking device for doors, an actuator member adapted to beslidably associated with adoor and having an opening adapted to registerwith an opening in the door for a door keeper, a bracket fixedly carriedby said actuator member and having spaced projecting stop portions,a-downwardly tapered latch member for engaging said keeper when extendedthrough said openings slidable relative to said actuator for limitedrocking movement transversely thereof and having a flange portiondisposed for engagement by one stop portion of the bracket so thatmovement of the actuator in one direction operates to move the latchmember in the same direction to unlocked position, spring meansinterposed between the :bracket other stop and latch member 'fi-ange 8normally :bias'mgsaid latchrmember the opposite direction toward locked.position'nnd rockably toward .said-keeperopening, and a ,pro-

jection on the latch member adapted to'extend through said openings andbeing vengageable with awallof said opening in thedoor underthebias ofsaid spring whenthe latch member isaactusted insaid one direction tohold the latterin said,

unlocked position adjacent said keeper opening when the .actuatorismoved in thebppositedithe door :and :rocked thereby against the .biasol'said spring to release the latch member. and cause it to ,be actuated inthe opposite direction to locked positionby. said spring.

7 In a locking device for doors, a vertically shiftable actuator memberadapted to beslidably:

associated with a door and arranged tordropby gravity to lower lockedposition whenever released from .upper unlocked position, means In raisesaid-actuatormember, said actuator having an opening therein adapted-.to register with tan opening in the doorsoas to receive a door keeper.a bracket fixedly carriedby said actuator member and having projectingstop portions spaced longitudinally of .the actuator, .a downwardlytapered latch member slidably disposed in -sald actuator for limitedrocking movement transversely thereof and having, an upper flangeportion disposed for engagement by the lower stop portionof the bracketso that raising of-theactuator operates to raise the latch member,spring means interposed between thebracket upper stop and latchmembenflange normally biasingjaid latch memberslidablyin the downwarddirection and rockablyrtoward said keeperopenings, apro-v jection on thelatch member adapted to extend through said openingsand beingengageablewith awalloi said opening in the door channel under the biasof said spring when the latohmemb'er is raised to hold the latter in anelevatedlposltlon. adjacent said'keeper openings whenth actuator.

drops to locked position by gravit upon release of the handle,thelatchmember'in said elevated posltionbeing engaged by the keeperuponclosing the door and rocked against the bias of said spring .to releasethe latch .member and cause it to beactuated downwardly by said spring.into locking-engagement with the keeper and means to look the actuator.in the lower-locked position thereof irrespective :of thepositioncofsaidlatch member. A

8. In .a locking device for doors, .a vertically shiftable actuatormember adapted to be slldably associated with a door .andarranged to"dropibyc gravity torlowered locked position whenever .released fromupper unlocked position, means Ito. raise said actuator member, saidactuator having an-opening therein adapted to register with ranopeningin the door so asto receive a door keeper. a downwardly-taperedlatch'member slidably disposed in said actuator for limited rocking movement transversely thereof, connections between the actuator and latchmember operable upon' said Lkeeper opening when the actuator drops toREFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Kaser Aug. 26, 1930 Baker et alMar. 10, 1936

